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Possible contact for body panels????
Space age
Who: 3G Services
What: Designs and fabricates parts of composite materials, does thermo forming, makes plastic injection molds, silicone rubber molds.
Founded: 2002
Where: 12254 Universal Drive, Taylor
Phone: (734) 947-9434 or visit
Company soars with space-age material
3G Services of Taylor creates lightweight carbon parts that help cars, planes go faster.
TAYLOR -- Jobless at age 54, Doug Groh made a decision with his wife, Peggy Groh, that they would bet everything on a start-up company developing and manufacturing products made of space-age composite materials.
That was 2002. Now, 3G Services of Taylor supplies carbon fiber parts to AMG, the German firm that manufactures high-performance versions of Mercedes-Benz models; created parts for two concept cars featured at the 2005 North American International Auto Show and is developing new products using composites not related to the auto industry.
"I was making a very decent wage as director of operations for the advanced products development group of a big engineering company in Troy," Groh recalled. "Then they decided to eliminate everybody in middle management. I looked for jobs, but I wasn't going to be able to make a decent living."
So the Grohs in April 2002 invested their life savings -- $450,000 -- to launch 3G Services. Now the company, located in an industrial park in Taylor has added a third partner, Chris Fahnestock, employs eight workers and recorded sales of $1.5 million in 2004 and Groh projects 2005 sales will top $2 million.
Carbon fiber is a composite of fiberglass cloth reinforced with strands of graphite.
Owing to its high strength combined with light weight, composite materials first appeared in aircraft applications. The new Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" gets 20 percent better fuel mileage than comparable-sized airliners because of its extensive use of carbon fiber.
Composite materials quickly appeared in auto racing applications where lighter weight translates to faster speeds.
The carbon fiber parts 3G fabricated for ASC Inc. of Southgate, Groh said, trimmed 1,000 pounds from the Chevrolet SSR Diamondback concept truck that debuted at this year's Detroit auto show.
Groh's firm also fabricated parts for the Pontiac GTO Stinger concept car, also built by ASC that made its debut at the Detroit show.
The company is fabricating lightweight parts for a hemi-powered 1971 Cuda show car that will be featured in the Primedia exhibit at the 2005 Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association annual trade show in Las Vegas. Primedia is a publisher of auto enthusiast magazines.
The industry news TV show, "Autoline Detroit," filmed a segment at the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise featuring Patty Kidd. To promote her graphics design firm in Royal Oak, PK Performance, Kidd customized the family 1997 Nissan 240 SX using parts fabricated by 3G Services.
After claiming the best use of carbon fiber trophy at the 2005 Autorama, the hot rod and custom car show held each winter in Cobo Center, Kidd gave the award to Groh.
"They did a wonderful job," Kidd said. "We've got nothing but high praise from everybody who sees our car."
Groh is busy developing new products like a featherweight trailer and hoods and front fascias for 18-wheelers. Reduce the overall weight of a big rig and payload can be increased.
"We've also been looking at nonautomotive products," Groh said. "Everybody has got to start looking at new products. We can't afford to have the auto industry steering our businesses."
3G has come up with a carbon fiber guitar pick guard and is looking at a line of jewelry.
Space age
Who: 3G Services
What: Designs and fabricates parts of composite materials, does thermo forming, makes plastic injection molds, silicone rubber molds.
Founded: 2002
Where: 12254 Universal Drive, Taylor
Phone: (734) 947-9434 or visit
Company soars with space-age material
3G Services of Taylor creates lightweight carbon parts that help cars, planes go faster.
TAYLOR -- Jobless at age 54, Doug Groh made a decision with his wife, Peggy Groh, that they would bet everything on a start-up company developing and manufacturing products made of space-age composite materials.
That was 2002. Now, 3G Services of Taylor supplies carbon fiber parts to AMG, the German firm that manufactures high-performance versions of Mercedes-Benz models; created parts for two concept cars featured at the 2005 North American International Auto Show and is developing new products using composites not related to the auto industry.
"I was making a very decent wage as director of operations for the advanced products development group of a big engineering company in Troy," Groh recalled. "Then they decided to eliminate everybody in middle management. I looked for jobs, but I wasn't going to be able to make a decent living."
So the Grohs in April 2002 invested their life savings -- $450,000 -- to launch 3G Services. Now the company, located in an industrial park in Taylor has added a third partner, Chris Fahnestock, employs eight workers and recorded sales of $1.5 million in 2004 and Groh projects 2005 sales will top $2 million.
Carbon fiber is a composite of fiberglass cloth reinforced with strands of graphite.
Owing to its high strength combined with light weight, composite materials first appeared in aircraft applications. The new Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" gets 20 percent better fuel mileage than comparable-sized airliners because of its extensive use of carbon fiber.
Composite materials quickly appeared in auto racing applications where lighter weight translates to faster speeds.
The carbon fiber parts 3G fabricated for ASC Inc. of Southgate, Groh said, trimmed 1,000 pounds from the Chevrolet SSR Diamondback concept truck that debuted at this year's Detroit auto show.
Groh's firm also fabricated parts for the Pontiac GTO Stinger concept car, also built by ASC that made its debut at the Detroit show.
The company is fabricating lightweight parts for a hemi-powered 1971 Cuda show car that will be featured in the Primedia exhibit at the 2005 Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association annual trade show in Las Vegas. Primedia is a publisher of auto enthusiast magazines.
The industry news TV show, "Autoline Detroit," filmed a segment at the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise featuring Patty Kidd. To promote her graphics design firm in Royal Oak, PK Performance, Kidd customized the family 1997 Nissan 240 SX using parts fabricated by 3G Services.
After claiming the best use of carbon fiber trophy at the 2005 Autorama, the hot rod and custom car show held each winter in Cobo Center, Kidd gave the award to Groh.
"They did a wonderful job," Kidd said. "We've got nothing but high praise from everybody who sees our car."
Groh is busy developing new products like a featherweight trailer and hoods and front fascias for 18-wheelers. Reduce the overall weight of a big rig and payload can be increased.
"We've also been looking at nonautomotive products," Groh said. "Everybody has got to start looking at new products. We can't afford to have the auto industry steering our businesses."
3G has come up with a carbon fiber guitar pick guard and is looking at a line of jewelry.
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